The Spanish Billionaire's Hired Bride (18 page)

Ricardo untangled their fingers and slid the rings back on to her left hand. “So it’s official now. You’re my wife to have and to hold forever.”

“Do the lawyers need to draw up another addendum to cover this unusual and unexpected turn of events? Like how many sons I have to provide you with?”

He laughed and raindrops fell from his hair onto her nose. “No more bloody lawyers. Ever. And daughters will be fine.”

“What if we can’t… you know?”

“Then we’ll have a lot of fun trying.” He pulled her closer to him. “There’s nothing wrong with just you and me, Helen. I’ll do everything I can to make things perfect for you. Whatever you want, I’ll try to give you, I promise.”

Helen looked down at her left hand, still held in his and she believed him. “The rings are tighter than they were. All that gorgeous food and wine you stuffed me with in Spain. No wonder Mum convinced herself I was pregnant. I’ve come back at least half a stone heavier.”

“And you look all the more gorgeous for it.” He rubbed the back of his hand over her tummy and grinned. He brushed the water from her face and kissed her on the nose. “We’ll have the rings altered. You can have a new set every year if you like. Or month or week, just so long as you say you’ll stay my wife. I love you, and I can hardly dare to believe that this time it’s for real.”

“It always was real for me, the way I feel about you. I think I fell in love with you the first time I looked into your eyes and thought I was about to die. In a sort of way I did, because I’m in heaven now.”

“Yes,” he lowered his mouth to brush hers.
“Amen to that.”

Acknowledgments

Thanks go to …

Colin for being my rock, tolerating my obsessions and pairing up the socks.

Rebecca for teaching herself to cook, making sure I shut the front door and being so beautiful.

Joseph for not minding when I forget things, making me laugh and jumping in puddles.

The fabulous team at Entangled publishing, producing wonderful books and very happy authors. You guys work so hard.

Author Bio

Rachel writes full-time when her children are at school, but is still proud of her law degree and accountancy qualifications. She has worked in the space industry, pharmaceuticals, insurance, a supermarket, a bus station, a railway depot, and a lingerie department. She lives with her daughter, son, and The Exec in Fareham, Hampshire, on the south coast of England and can sometimes smell the sea from her back garden. When not working, her hobbies include rummaging through antique shops, talking to her chocolate brown Rex rabbit and popping into Sainsbury’s. She also has a fondness for wine and expensive lipstick. Rachel loves to hear from readers. Visit her at
http://rachellyndhurst.blogspot.com
.